September 2025 Minutes
SWINESHEAD PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Council Office
1 & 2 North End
Swineshead
PE20 3LR
Chairman: Councillor Carl Gibbard
Clerk: Diane Fairweather
Minutes of the Meeting of Swineshead Parish Council
Held on Tuesday 16h September 2025
At Swineshead Community Hub, 1 & 2 North End, Swineshead PE20 3LR
Minutes taken by Clerk, Diane Fairweather.
Present:
Councillors Carl Gibbard, (Chairman), Sean Trafford (Vice Chairman) Mike Brookes, Phillippa Parnell, Roger Welberry.
Also Present: Borough Councillors, S. Evans and S. Welberry, County Councillor P. Lock and two members of the public.
Public Forum
Resident concerned with footpath misuse by delivery vans and speeding on a blind corner in Coles Lane. Suggesting some form of traffic calming. Resident to contact Clerk to escalate to Highways. Questioning when roads in village are to be swept again. It was once done regularly. PC to pursue with BBC.
Borough Councillor Stuart Evans
Double yellow lines at Post Office. Resident has given views of Highways actions as not appropriate. It is Cllr Evans and the Parish Council this is the best option available for varying differing reasons. Many residents commenting on how much better it is in the area.
Councillor Suzanne Welberry:
Change of leadership at BBC.
Streetlight in High out. Will take comments of Coles Lane forward. Meeting with Paul Smith to follow up on our concerns over The Wheatsheaf renovations, particularly the replacing of the canopy.
Lincolnshire County Councillor Paul Lock:
Arrived from a Pylons meeting today, there are to be consultations which PC will receive details of.
Meeting with Highway Officer also regarding double yellow lanes. Resident complaining and Cllr Lock advised resident to contact Parish Council.
Gauntlet Solar Farm – planning, Swineshead mentioned but nothing received.
Cllr Brookes requested if any further action is due to be taken on loading and unloading in Abbey Road. Still awaiting to go to Planning and Regulation Committee. Cllr Lock will question on his ’tour’ with Highways Officer next week.
1. Chairman’s remarks:
There are a small band of volunteers in village, but he felt it would be sensible to have a central communication of all volunteers.
2. Apologies for absence:
Cllrs R. Hilton, A. Lawrence, D. Lemon & C. Trafford.
3. To Co-Opt New Councillor – Applicant not present.
4. To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items.
None
5. To approve as a correct record, the notes of the meeting of the Council held on 15th July 2025.
On proposal from Cllr S Trafford, seconded Cllr P Parnell with no objections, all resolved to accept the minutes and gave permission for the Chairman to sign them.
6. Clerks’ updates on outstanding matter and correspondence:
Willow Tree in Coles Lane reported.
Requested updates from planning Officer regarding renovations, in particularly the canopy at the Wheatsheaf, the replacement forms part of the planning application. Response to be forwarded to Cllr S. Welberry.
7. Financial matters:
i) Bank not available as new clerk has no access to bank yet.
ii) To approve Payments as per schedule below:
PAYEE SERVICE AMOUNT
Lloyds Charges £4.25
EE PC Mobile £11.02
Methodist Church Library Rent £150.00
Friends of St Mary’s Church Archive & Community Hub £200.00
Gillrange Limited Community Hub & Council Office rent £350.00
BT broad £54.42
N Bush Payroll £17.00
Staff Salaries Clerk, Pension & PAYE £1574.78
GLL Library Photocopying £4.39
Proposed Cllr S. Trafford seconded Cllr R. Welberry to approve, all resolved to accept the above payments.
External Auditors quoting the AGAR is £4,000 adrift. It appears to be rent arrears not showing. Confirmation this is correct? Council agreed this would be the reason.
iii) To Discuss/Approve Purchasing of gov.uk domain
Previously mentioned but will, next year, form part of the annual financial return. Security and availability of data being the prominent reason to being on board. Initial annual cost of £100.
iv) To Discuss Renewal of Scribe software - £414.72 renewal
Software purchased to assist a previous Clerk, new clerk does not feel the need of this expenditure and will report on Excel Spreadsheets. Agreed not to renew subscription.
v) To Discuss Renewal of L.I.V.E.S contract
Clerk concerned there is nothing on file of regular checks being made. Is prepared to continue checks.
Confirm with L.I.V.E.S if indeed these are being carried out before requesting a refund from previous year if this not the case.
iii), iv) and v) above proposed and seconded on block Cllr Brookes, Cllr Parnell
8. Town and Country Planning Act 1990. To consider and make observations on Planning applications received since last month’s meeting.
B/25/0315 Lancaster House, Mill Lane – demolition of single storey and proposed two storey extension
B/25/0319 Plot 8 – 11 Gilding Fields, Change of use of land to domestic gardens
Various Tree Preservation Orders.
9. To Adopt the Armed Forces Covenant: Clerk had not received official document. Agenda item next meeting.
10. To Adopt Revised Standing Orders: Distributed to Councillors and annotated amendments. Proposed Cllr Trafford seconded Cllr Parnell they be adopted.
11. To Approve Storage of Parish Council Documents: Clerk requested Cloud contents kept on a separate computer, due to aging PC computer. Proposed Cllr P. Parnell seconded Cllr Trafford, no objections. Cllr Gibbard advised would be opportunity to use computer to download data from CCTVs.
12. Councillor’s and village reports, actions & updates:
Swineshead Community Emergency Plan & Local Villages Resilience & Emergency Group Cllr P. Lock attended a meeting recently with personnel that is leading, who will be in touch with PC
Play Area to include Skate Half Pike Contractor commencing when children return to school. Remedial works have been completed
Swineshead Benevolent Foundation:
Swineshead Village Hall, Lease Renewal
Car Park Maintenance Lease to be renewed, PC will have to pay legal costs, approx. £1700. Changing solicitors due to length of time taken.
Parish Council updates on:
Community Hub
Library
Village Archive Clerk had suggested a surgery in Swineshead. PC agreed to pursue.
Revd. Ogden requesting if contribution could be increased. Youth Club now running which they do not charge for.
Heritage in Boston a huge success. A new Roman villa site proffered by visitor. Next Open day 4th October
Repositioning of Boston Road Planter Nothing received. Application details to be sent to Cllr P. Lock
Proposed “No Stopping” restrictions on Abey Road, in vicinity of school Update from Highways Officer, not at PLanning & Building Regulations. Cllr Lock to speak with officers
13. Dates for the next meeting: 21st October 2025
The meeting closed at: 7.47pm